A vegan voyage of discovery: 5 London plant based eateries

Dining out in London should always be an enjoyable experience. Whether you keep booking your favourite restaurant, safe in the knowledge that you’ll have a great meal out every time, or you try new and exciting dining experiences such as these available at UK experience provider Into the Blue, it’s a nice treat for all concerned.

However, if you don’t eat meat or dairy, finding delicious, plant only-based food isn’t all that easy. Scrutinising unclear menus and interrogating unsuspecting staff is an unfortunate but regular feature of an evening out if you’re a vegan diner. Did you know that the number of vegans in the UK has rocketed by 700% in just two years? That’s 3.5 million people, which equates to 7% of the population, who have chosen this way of eating.

Whether you are following a plant based diet for health reasons, or you’re a passionate advocate of animal welfare and have chosen to abstain from consuming animal products as a matter of principle, you would surely expect the choice of vegan restaurants to have mushroomed in recent times?

Things are looking a lot better in London than in many other UK locations but still, finding a 100% plant based restaurant in the capital is not an easy job. But fear not – we’ve done the hard work for you. Whether you’re visiting London for the first time or just need a few tips about where to dine out vegan style, here are 5 totally plant based cafés and restaurants you simply must try.

A new vegan eatery has opened recently in a little side street just off Sloane Square in the heart of Chelsea, boasting a 100% plant based menu. Head Chef Franco Casolin (of contemporary London vegetarian restaurant ‘Vanilla Black’ fame) serves a fast-casual menu with a nod to American staples including Chili ‘non’ Carne, Ackee Burrito and the Wulf Spicy Bean Burger. According to the website, Wulf & Lamb is for ‘ferocious herbivores, and friends’. ‘We’ve crafted a menu to satisfy your craving for plant based comfort food. We don’t compromise on quality, so being kind to yourself can now be a pure indulgence,’ they say.

A new trendy vegan restaurant in the middle of London’s West End just off Drury Lane, By Chloe comes from the USA where it has 9 outlets and a sizeable celebrity following. With the mission to make plant based food ‘affordable, approachable and accessible’, they aim to redefine what it means to eat well, offering to share plant-based food that fuels and energises without compromising on flavour, taste or satisfaction. Co-founder Samantha Wasser adds: ‘We are committed to maintaining a sustainable and vegan lifestyle […] with our animal-free menu, mindful ingredient sourcing and eco-friendly packaging.’

Based in the fashionable Westbourne Grove area of Notting Hill, Farmacy Kitchen was founded by Camilla al-Fayed (daughter of Mohamed) and takes its mission from Hipprocates’ famous quote ‘Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food’. The ambience exudes tranquillity, health and happiness, while Michelin starred chef Joao Ricardo Alves serves up a nourishing and delicious menu of plant based dishes from around the world that are dairy free, sugar free, additive and chemical free.

Billed as the UK’s first vegan pizzeria, Purezza has been a real success story since it was founded in Brighton back in 2015. A second restaurant has recently opened in Camden. Passionate about real Italian pizza, but revolutionising their approach by using cruelty free ingredients, Purezza are proud to have achieved their aim of making 100% plant based pizza that is superior to the traditional alternatives. All pizza bases are made from wholegrain sourdough flour, hemp flour or a gluten free base, and kids eat free.

This family run vegan and gluten free Bake Shop in North London’s Holloway Road opened in 2016 serving a mouthwatering range of home made cookies, brownies, pies and doughnuts as well as shakes and hot drinks. Every product is egg, dairy, wheat and gluten free. It’s both a shop and a café with retro style booth and bar seating, plus an outside seating area during the warmer months where you can sit down to enjoy the award winning treats.